Maryland volleyball remains winless in conference play following 3-1 loss to No. 3 Nebraska

As the fourth set moved on, Maryland’s hopes for an upset win dwindled down.

With Nebraska five more points to take the match, a kill by Maryland’s Lailia Ivey halted the Cornhuskers’ momentum for a moment.

A few points later, up 21-17, a kill from Nebraska put the Cornhuskers in search of three more points to take the match. A few points later, an attack error put the Terps within two and forced a Nebraska timeout. 

Maryland tied the set at 22, but Nebraska went on a 3-0 scoring run to end Maryland’s hopes of a prime win in conference play. Nebraska took the set, 25-22, and won the match, 3-1. 

Maryland volleyball faced off against No. 3 Nebraska, continuing its search for its first win in conference play.

The Terps took an early 3-1 lead in the first set after a kill from Gem Grinshaw followed by a Nebraska error. Maryland found itselves ahead 7-2 thanks to a sneak kill and service ace from Laila Ricks.

Nebraska quickly cut the lead to just one after going on a 4-0 run, and a Maryland attack error helped Nebraska tie the score. The Cornhuskers followed with two straight points won to take a 9-7 lead, forcing a Maryland timeout. Nebraska extended their lead to six after the timeout, but a kill from Sam Csire finally got Maryland back on the scoreboard, down 15-10.

Nebraska held an eight point lead nearing the end of the set, but Maryland pulled itselves within five after kills from Ricks and Sydney Dowler. Despite Maryland’s efforts, a kill by Witney Lauenstein put Nebraska within four points to win the set, 21-15. Continuing its lead, Nebraska held on to win the set, 25-18. 

The Cornhuskers held the Terps to a .114 hitting percentage in set one.

Maryland held a slim 2-1 lead early in the second set, and maintaining the lead and its momentum, a kill by Csire brought the Terps up 5-2. Maryland’s lead wasn’t for long as back-to-back kills by Nebraska helped tie the game at five. A few points later, a powerful kill by Ivey helped the Terps pick up a one point lead, 9-8. 

A block by Ivey and Anatasia Russ helped Maryland extend its lead into the middle of the set. The Cornhuskers took the lead from out under the Terps, 14-12. A Maryland attack error helped extend Nebraska’s lead to 16-13, forcing a Maryland timeout.

Soon after the timeout, two straight kills from the Cornhuskers put Nebraska within five to win their second set of the match, 20-15. Maryland created a close set at 22-18 after a kill from Ricks, but Nebraska pushed its lead back up to five and a kill from Kaitlyn Harford gave Nebraska set point, 24-18. Three Nebraska errors followed to get Maryland within three points of Nebraska, forcing a Nebraska timeout. 

After the timeout, a powerful block by Csire and Russ followed by a Nebraska attack error made it a one point set, 24-23, but a Maryland attack error gave Nebraska the set win, 25-23. Maryland was put in a hole going down 2-0 against one of the best teams in the nation.

The Cornhuskers outscored the Terps in kills and held Maryland to zero service aces and blocks. 

Maryland started the third set with an early 3-1 lead, but Nebraska quickly tied the set at three. Maryland re-gained the lead, 9-5, after a kill from Ivey. Trying to close in on the Terps, a kill followed by a service ace put Nebraska within three. Continuing their lead well into the middle of the set, a short ball by Ricks brought the Terps ahead by four.

Entering the end stretch of the third, a forceful kill by Ivey that sent the ball into the stands brought the score to 18-14, but Nebraska slowly started to creep back up on the Terps, cutting their lead to just two, 18-16. The Terps grew their lead to four, which forced a Nebraska timeout. An attack error from the Terps put Nebraska back within three points of the Terps, but an attack error from Nebraska followed by another error gave the Terps the set win, 25-21, forcing a fourth set.

Despite Nebraska holding Maryland to a .175 hitting percentage, the Terps outscored the Cornhuskers in kills (15) and service aces (two).

Nebraska gained an early 4-2 lead in the fourth set and a 3-0 run helped the Cornhuskers extend their lead to four. Nebraska’s lead remained four, 13-9, in the middle stages of the set. A Maryland attack error helped Nebraska extend its lead to 17-11, forcing a Maryland timeout. 

Maryland eventually tied the set 22-22, but Nebraska went on a 3-0 run to secure the match win.

The loss dropped the Terps to 9-7, 0-4 in Big Ten play. Maryland’s next chance for its first conference win will come Friday against Illinois.